The latest philosophical thinking is found in current journals of philosophy. Our discussions of articles published recently will give you first-hand encounters with philosophy in the making, usually including direct contact with the authors.

The latest philosophical thinking is found in current journals of philosophy. Our discussions of articles published in the last twelve months will give you first-hand encounters with philosophy in the making, sometimes including direct contact with the authors.

The latest philosophical thinking is found in current journals of philosophy. Our discussions of articles published in them very recently will give you first-hand encounters with philosophy in the making.

What is it to be conscious? According to many philosophers and scientists, the nature of consciousness is the last great mystery facing human knowledge. The field has seen enormous activity in recent years and this course will provide an introduction to fascinating issues in the philosophy of mind with special emphasis on recent contributions.

The natural world is rich in its diversity not only of skin and teeth, flesh and bone. It also contains a cornucopia of minds. But how do we make sense of this diversity of mind and sense? How can we begin to understand the mind of the inscrutable cat or of the alien octopus? What lessons does the existence of other kinds of mind teach us about our own? Drawing on the philosophy of mind and recent researches in animal cognition, this course will provide a fascinating introduction to the issues surrounding the existence and nature of animal minds.

Philosophy is an inquiry into the fundamental assumptions by which we live, directed by questioning, arguments, and reason. Using a variety of approaches – encounters with the work of a philosopher of genius, analysis of different views on a single issue and the study of a contemporary philosophical text – this course will provide a stimulating introduction for those wishing to begin study of this fascinating subject.

Why do we enjoy things for the sake of their appearance? What distinguishes works of art from natural objects of aesthetic interest? Are there limits on what can count as a work of art? What do we mean when we say ‘design’ that we don’t mean when we say ‘art’? This course will provide an introduction to the central questions and theories of philosophical aesthetics of the philosophy of art, providing a foundation for critical explorations of music, the visual arts and popular culture.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately abut their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Philosophy is an inquiry into the fundamental assumptions by which we live, directed by questioning, arguments, and reason. Using a variety of approaches – encounters with the work of a philosopher of genius, analysis of different views on a single issue and the study of a contemporary philosophical text – this course will provide a stimulating introduction for those wishing to begin study of this fascinating subject.

Arguably the greatest philosopher of the last century, Wittgenstein continues to inspire and infuriate in equal measure. This course will provide an introduction to his most important work, Philosophical Investigations, exploring issues in the philosophy of mind and language and investigating the question of whether Wittgenstein can be regarded as the first post-modern thinker.

A unique opportunity to engage in discussion with artists exhibiting at the UK’s largest commercial gallery: The Biscuit Factory. In this course, you’ll learn to make critical and interpretative judgments about contemporary art, and then get the chance to try out your ideas with the artists as you hear them talk about their own work. Learn too about the issues that affect artists working today in the modern art market.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately abut their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Does life have a purpose? Does death make human existence absurd? Do we have a true nature which we should strive to achieve? Western analytic philosophy has traditionally been wary of the great questions of life, death and meaning, fearing pretension and hubris. But over the last ten years, a number of philosophers have used the resources of the analytic tradition to return to the questions which, as many see it, must be at the heart of philosophical inquiry. All are welcome

As we go to press, 100,000 people have given their support to the Newcastle-Gateshead bid to be European City of Culture

2008. But what exactly is a City of Culture? What concepts of culture inform it? In what kinds of way can the region expect to benefit? Through a series of guided, in situ visits to major cultural platforms in the region, this course will provide fascinating insights into the concepts of culture underlying our City of Culture bid, and give you the chance to assess its likely impact on the region and its identity.

No matter how user-friendly our IT systems become, databases remain the most difficult of all ITC applications to understand. However, a grasp of the essential principles of design can set you on the right track to building effective and efficient database systems. By working through a practical example, using Microsoft Access, this course will provide you with the essentials of relational database design. Recommended to those who wish to prepare for the Dataweb course.

This second course will provide explore more extended techniques in the construction of Active Server Pages and enable participants to incorporate these techniques into their individual projects. Outcomes By the end of the day, participants will be able to: • Write basic control loops in VBscript • Understand the syntax relevant to using the ASP object model • Understand and be able to employ hyperlinks as models for database relations • Construct a live webpage allowing entering and updating of data in an Access database • Incorporate these techniques in their individual projects. Requirements Participants should have: • Experience in the use of HTML to create WebPages • Experience with the use of relational databases and the construction of SQL statements in e.g. Microsoft Access • Some limited exposure to a programming environment. Topics Basic Scripting with VB Script Basic Techniques Variables Loop Constructs Decision Constructs The Object Model What is an Object? Properties, Events and Methods Session Object Request Object Response Object Making the Connection Controlling your data display Using Hyperlinks to model your database relations Writing your first ASP page Implementing these techniques in your project

If you’ve ever used the web to buy a book, book a flight or even find someone’s phone number, you’ll have used a database-driven website. But the enormous usefulness of “datawebs” is not limited to the big e-commerce players. Your SME, office or community group can also benefit from a web presence that harnesses the power of databases to drive the site. This course, consisting of 3 linked days, will provide a fast-track to giving you the knowledge and skills to start building your own datawebs, based on your own project developed in conjunction with the course leader. Participants enrolling on all three courses will receive on-line support for their project development. Three linked Saturdays | £120 per course or £300 for booking on all 3 courses DataWebs I This first course will provide foundational knowledge for the course and enable participants to outline an individual project which will form the focus of their learning. Outcomes By the end of the day, participants will be able to: • Understand the key advantages of datawebs over static WebPages • Understand some key principles in database development • Understand the structure of Active Server Pages • Write simple VB scripts • Construct a live webpage displaying data from an Access database • Outline an individual project which will provide a focus for further learning. Requirements Participants should have: • Basic familiarity with the use of HTML to create WebPages • Some experience with the use of relational databases e.g. Microsoft Access Topics Datawebs A Short History of the Web What is a dataweb? The key advantages of datawebs ASP Introduction to Active Server Pages (ASP) Files Why Should You Use ASP Pages? Databases Introduction to Databases Structured Query Language Setting up an Database Connection Making the Connection Simple VB scripting Writing your first ASP page Outlining your project

This third course will provide explore intermediate-level techniques in the construction of Active Server Pages, enabling participants to complete their individual projects and acquire an overview of future developments in the creation of datawebs. Outcomes By the end of the day, participants will be able to: • Identify and deploy the key techniques for writing generic code • Incorporate these techniques in their individual projects, including a. authentication system for their application. • Identify some key resources for further development of their projects • Acquire an overview of the limitations of Active Server Pages and the background to ASP.Net. Requirements Participants should have: • Experience in the use of HTML to create WebPages • Experience with the use of relational databases and the construction of SQL statements in e.g. Microsoft Access • Experience in a programming/scripting environment. Topics Generic Scripting with VB Script Why use generic scripts? Include files The Object Model What is an Object? Properties, Events and Methods Session Object Request Object Response Object Securing the Connection Developing a user authentication system Implementing authentication in your project Script Examples Sending Mail ASP Navigation Beyond ASP The limitations of ASP Towards ASP.Net

Why do we enjoy things for the sake of their appearance? What distinguishes works of art from natural objects of aesthetic interest? Are there limits on what can count as a work of art? What do we mean when we say ‘design’ that we don’t mean when we say ‘art’? This course will provide an introduction to the central questions and theories of philosophical aesthetics of the philosophy of art, providing a foundation for critical explorations of music, the visual arts and popular culture.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately abut their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Why do we enjoy things for the sake of their appearance? What distinguishes works of art from natural objects of aesthetic interest? Are there limits on what can count as a work of art? What do we mean when we say ‘design’ that we don’t mean when we say ‘art’? This course will provide an introduction to the central questions and theories of philosophical aesthetics of the philosophy of art, providing a foundation for critical explorations of music, the visual arts and popular culture.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately about their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Wittgenstein produced two masterpieces; the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and the Philosophical Investigations. We will examine themes from these works in the light of contemporary philosophy and cognitive science. Learn why his work is so vital and relevant to us today, living as we do in a world of intelligent machines and thinking brains. The course will suit beginners as well as those already familiar with these unique ideas.

Of all the arts, music presents the most intractable philosophical problems. In this course, a musicologist and a philosopher will help you explore the fascinating issues concerning music, its meaning and why it matters.

Why do we enjoy things for the sake of their appearance? What distinguishes works of art from natural objects of aesthetic interest? Are there limits on what can count as a work of art? What do we mean when we say ‘design’ that we don’t mean when we say ‘art’? This course will provide an introduction to the central questions and theories of philosophical aesthetics of the philosophy of art, providing a foundation for critical explorations of music, the visual arts and popular culture.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately abut their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Join the on-going project of constructing a hypertext on Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations. The topic for this day-school is “following a rule”. You can prepare by reading the Investigations para. 143 – 242.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately about their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately about their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately about their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

“What would you say if…. “. From Plato to Parfit, philosophers have used thought experiments – fantastical or even logically impossible, counter-factual situations – to test our intuitions or reveal deep assumptions in our thinking. This course will seek to assess the role of thought-experiments in philosophy, through the classification and study of classical, modern and contemporary examples.

Philosophy is a response to deep anxiety about the ways we think and live. This course offers a stimulating introduction to the problems and methods of philosophical thinking using various approaches – encounters with the work of a philosopher of genius, analysis of different views of a single issue and the study of a contemporary philosophical text.

Philosophy is not an impersonal collection of doctrines but an activity engaged in by real people who feel passionately about their ideas. This makes the professional journals and magazines the arenas of often fierce and fascinating battles. These arguments reflect and often anticipate the concerns of the wider culture. By exploring the background and following the progress of some important recent debates in ethics and in the philosophy of mind, this course will provide a stimulating insight into philosophy today.

Philosophy is a response to deep anxiety about the ways we think and live. This course offers a stimulating introduction to the problems and methods of philosophical thinking using various approaches – encounters with the work of a philosopher of genius, analysis of different views of a single issue and the study of a contemporary philosophical text.